Ways The Muddy Homestead battles limited grass for chickens and sheep during the winter

We have spent some time reading about grass and trying to figure out the best way to provide grass all year for my sheep. We have looked into types of grass and how many sheep to put on so many acres and even how to rotate the sheep to help decrease barber pole worm issues. We say this to say that we still have not got it right, we are always learning. We read that the best way to look at things is to think of myself as a grass farmer not a sheep or chicken farmer, because without grass it is hard to raise healthy sheep and chickens.

If we are suppose to be a grass farmer we are not a very good one.

The winter weather affects the grass, as we all know, causing a decrease in nutrition for the sheep. In order to combat the decrease nutritional value the sheep receive an increase in sweet feed and minerals and the chickens receive black oil sunflower seeds. Both of these help to keep weight on the animals and help them keep warm in the colder weather.

Back in the fall, three of the seven pastures were divided in half and rye grass was planted. The rye grass was spread and the grass was cut to cover the seed while waiting for it to grow. Some of rye grass grew really well, the rest not so great. But it gives the sheep some good nutrient rich grass from time to time as they rotate through those pastures.

The chickens are sheep are both offered rye grass grown through fodder which is without dirt and inside. This gives one more way to increase the nutrients needed from the grass for the animals.

The sheep also get hay every evening to help with body heat, as when the body breaks down hay the body creates heat. The hay also makes sure the sheep have enough roughage to maintain a healthy gut. The chickens get hay added to their nesting boxes which they then move or eat as they like.

The Muddy Homestead and Sheep Farm is located in South Louisiana so winter is very mild,

usually only a few days or nights that are below freezing which affects how things are handled. But as we always say, doing things a bit differently around here is what we do.